Groin Strain

Groin strains are typically treated at home by resting and icing the injured area. A groin/hip spica support can be effective in immobilizing the injured structures and allowing them to rest in order to assure a full recovery.  An important part of the recovery process is physical rehabilitation through participation in a groin strain rehab program.

The time required to recover from a groin strain depends on several factors, including the severity of the injury and the fitness level of the injured individual. However, one should expect to need several weeks  to fully recover from this injury and return to regular activities.

Although it is sometimes said that groin strain injuries can contribute to erectile dysfunction, there is in fact no evidence of this.

Groin Strain Causes

As stated above, this injury is strongly associated with sporting or athletic activities. Most affected individuals tend to be either professional or recreational athletes.

Probably the most frequently observed cause of groin strains is damage to the adductor muscles while performing a kicking movement.

Probably the next most frequently observed cause is trying to execute a turn while also running, skating or jumping.

Generally speaking, any movement that requires simultaneous lengthening and contraction of groin muscles elevates the risk of a strain.

Other than sports, the activities that can cause this type of injury include:

• Lifting heavy objects, especially if this is not done observing proper technique;
• Strength or resistance exercise.

Risk Factors

The primary factors that increase the risk of experiencing a groin strain are:

• Playing a sport or participating in a recreational activity that kicking or executing sudden turns while running or jumping. Sports like football, rugby,soccer, hockey, skating, tennis and many others are examples;
• Playing these sports without adequate offseason conditioning is another risk factor, as the athlete is then playing with less core muscle strength and flexibility than he/she needs to avoid injury;
• Having a previous groin strain also increases your chances of experiencing another one.

Grades Of Groin Strain

As with other types of sprain or strain, the severity of any groin muscle strain can be placed into one of three categories:

• A grade I strain that involves overstretching or very mild tearing of (typically) no more than 5% of the affected muscle fibers. This is also typically referred to as a “groin pull”;
• A grade II strain that causes damage ( typically tearing) of a significant proportion (typically more than 5%) of the adductor muscle fibres;
• Grade III groin strain that damages most or all of the adductor muscle fibres and usually involves extensive tearing or a complete rupture of those fibres.

Groin Strain Symptoms

In many cases, people with groin strains report hearing or sensing a snapping or popping sound at the time the injury is sustained.

Other typical signs and symptoms of this injury are:

• Inner thigh pain, which is usually worse when trying to walk or run;
• In some cases, pain may also be felt anywhere else between the hip and the knee;
• Loss of strength in the  upper thigh area;
• Swelling and contusions in the inner thigh area;

The severity of the pain is usually greater from grade II than grade I injuries, and for grade III compared to II.

Diagnosis

To formally diagnose a groin strain, a doctor will usually ask the injured person to explain how the injury occurred (i.e. what were they doing when it happened).

The doctor will also review the patient’s medical history to see whether he/she has suffered previous groin injuries that may predispose them to experiencing a strain.

Most doctors will then conduct a physical examination. Typical components of the exam might include asking the patient to stretch his/her adductor muscles and report whether any groin pain results. The doctor will also likely test the range of motion of the injured leg.

Groin Strain Treatment

Most grade I and II groin strains can be treated successfully using the R.I.C.E. protocol:

• Rest the injured groin muscles and allow them to recover naturally. A groin spica support will help to protect the injured muscles from stress during the recovery period;
• Apply Ice packs or a cold compress to the painful area for periods of about 20 minutes. It will help to reduce pain and inflammation. Repeat approximately 6-8 times a day..
• Apply compression to the groin area using compression shorts or a groin wrap (or both). This will help to enhance blood flow and promote healing.;
• Elevate the injured muscles above heart level as much as possible to help blood circulation through the area;

If the pain is severe, the doctor can also prescribe non steroidal inflammatory medicine for pain relief.

Physical therapy exercises (which we describe next) are an important part of the recovery process.

Groin Strain Exercises

These are strengthening exercises for the groin and inner thigh. They will also help to increase the flexibility of adductor muscles, making them less usceptible to another strain.

Examples include:

• Hip adductor stretches;
• Wall hamstring stretch;
• Leg raises;
• Resisted Hip flexion.

Groin Strain Recovery Time

This will obviously depend on the severity of the injury as well as whether the individual receives proper treatment and follows the doctors recommendations. Another important factor is the physical fitness of the injured person. The higher his/her fitness level, the shorter the recovery period, ceteris paribus.

Having said this, approximate recovery periods for a groin strain injury might be 2-3 weeks for a grade I strain, 2-3 months for a grade II strain and at least 4 months for a grade III injury.